Issue 124 | 13 December 2019

Chair’s blog: Speaking up for the rule of law

Fact checker

In 2019, BarTalk was read by barristers 190,180 times and had a readership rate (60%) which is three-times the industry average. 

Over 1000 new, additional subscribers now receive BarTalk.

Update: Review of fixed advocacy fees

Fast track in personal injury claims worth up to £25,000

The fixed advocacy fees for personal injury claims on the fast track have been in place since 1998. During that time there has only been one occasion when the fees have been raised following a proper consultation between the Bar Council, the Rule Committee, and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) when the figures were increased in October 2007.

The Chair of the Bar and the Chair of the Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA) have submitted a joint paper to Lord Justice Coulson which was placed before the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) in October 2019. The CPRC have since passed this to Robert Wright, Head of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs, at the MoJ.

The MoJ are currently considering the responses to the consultation ‘Extending Fixed Recoverable Costs in Civil Cases: Implementing Sir Rupert Jackson’s proposals’. That consultation and Sir Rupert Jackson’s proposals both addressed extending fixed recoverable costs to new cases. Our joint paper will be considered as part of the MoJ’s wider review following both the consultation and Sir Rupert Jackson’s proposals.

The Bar Council and PIBA will be in contact with the MoJ to discuss the matter further.

Budget: We want your views

Views on the 2020/21 Bar Council and Bar Standards Board Practising Certificate Fee (PCF) and budget consultation are invited. The deadline is 18 December 2019.

Telephone blackout on Friday 13 December

The Bar Council’s main switchboard telephone number will be out of service until later this evening (Friday 13 December). This is due to BT carrying out work on the Bar Council’s telephone system. You can still contact the Bar Council’s switchboard via the alternative telephone number of 0207 611 1439. All other Bar Council telephone lines will remain open, including the Ethical Enquiries Service.

The Next 100 Years

As the Bar Council looks to the Next 100 Years of women in law, it is supporting the new awards and encouraging the Bar to nominate barristers and others in the legal sector for one of the categories.

What the papers said about women at the Bar…in the 1970s

As part of its Next 100 Years campaign, which looks to the future of women at the Bar, the Bar Council has been exploring the archives to find what the newspapers, including the Financial Times and Evening Standard, said about women barristers in the 1970s.

Blogs

Guest blog: New client care letter and other news for Public Access barristers

Andrew Granville Stafford, member of the Bar Council, the Bar Council Ethics Committee and Chair of the Bar Council’s Direct Access Panel, blogs on new developments that public access barristers need to be aware of, including a new client care letter.

Wellbeing blog: Top tips for barristers on reducing stress for others

As we come to the end of the year, Rachel Crasnow QC blogs on the Wellbeing at the Bar website on how, barristers can reduce the stress of those around them.

Fundraising

If you are raising money for a good cause, ?subject=Fundraising%20on%20BarTalk to feature in this section of BarTalk.

Advocate Legal Wheel Appeal 2020

Advocate is currently recruiting cyclists for its Legal Wheel Appeal 2020. The Legal Wheel Appeal is a three day cycle from London to Paris with a spectacular Eiffel Tower finish. Those participating will also get to see the end of the Tour de France, as the dates coincide, and have a little bit of time to explore Paris before they return home.

Billable Hour Cookbook

Billable Hour, the charity set up by lawyers to help raise money for Save the Children, has brought out a cookbook with more than 100 recipes. Funds raised from the cookbook will go towards helping children in crisis around the world.

Class Action appeal: UK lawyers can help fund a classroom in Zambia

An appeal to UK lawyers has been launched to raise funds for a new classroom at Linda Community School, a school for 470 vulnerable children Zambia.

The appeal comes after the school's first classroom was funded by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. The classroom was opened by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland QC, and visited by the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Carnwath of the Supreme Court amongst others.

Consequently, an appeal to UK lawyers, ‘Class Action’ has been launched to fund the second classroom of the two room block. Individual barristers, as well as chambers, judges, solicitors and the North Eastern Circuit Charity have contributed.

The total raised currently stands at £8,041.32, with £1,958.68 left to reach the goal of £10,000. With the completion of this classroom the Zambezi Sunrise Trust, founded by retired barrister John Gillette and with Jonathan Ashley-Norman QC as another trustee, will have built seven classrooms for the school as well as other facilities.

The plan is now to expand the school to enable pupils to stay in secondary education.

Vacancies

The Bar Council needs you

JAC recruitment

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is recruiting a Senior Circuit Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Further information and details on how to apply are on the ?subject=JAC%20recruitment.

What's on

Inner Temple Children’s Christmas Tea with Father Christmas

Sunday 15 December, 16.00 (following the 15.30 Nativity Play, for those who wish to attend)

Middle Temple Hall

The career experiences of disabled people in the legal profession: Future strategies for change

Friday 24 January 2020

British Academy, Carlton House Terrace, London

Much of the Bar Council’s work would not be possible without funding from the Bar Representation Fee (BRF): a £12.50 per month voluntary subscription. Find out more and sign up to help support the Bar.